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Saturday, August 13, 2016

IoT idea: proximity based file syncing

I have always thought about getting my recent files for the day uploaded to a personal cloud at home once I reach my WiFi hot-spot. What I am talking about is an application that resides in the phone which lets the server know that my phone is within reach and to try to backup the new files onto itself. 

This seems like an easy task. There's no need for me to plug in my phone to my computer to drag and drop files from one place to another. What I'm talking about here is  automation. Actions based on proximity. 
Imagine this scenario: you leave your house and you're disconnected from your wireless hot-spot. 
At this point your home server can run a check on all the things that you will not be needing since you're away; for example, the light in your bathroom, the TV or maybe the light in your bedroom. If you're not going to need those on you can get a prompt on your phone so you can turn them off without having to go back in. I hear about Arduino and Raspberry Pi. Hopefully somebody will get a good idea of what I'm trying to say and come up with an actual device and a useful demonstration of how this would work. 

Open source platforms such as Linux and the Raspberry Pi open the pathway for developers to come up with ideas and products that are actually useful and that would save people some time and headaches. 
I like to think that I have the ability to create by just giving you an idea. I have not been successful at using a soldering iron but I want to master that some day. I wish I could program like the Pros and put my thoughts into code and hardware. A small home server that can store your new files upon entering WiFi range could save you the pain of losing data when you drop that smartphone in the toilet. Cheers and thanks for reading. If you happen to come up with something after reading this I would like to see it in action.

me@myLaptop:~$ uptime
 17:00:23 up 20 min,  2 users,  load average: 3.49, 3.20, 2.20